Pioneer Group has launched regional accelerator programmes in Cambridge and Cardiff to support early-stage life science and technology companies.

Pioneer Group has launched two regional accelerator programmes designed to help early-stage life science and technology companies develop their projects and progress towards market.

The six-week programmes will begin in Cambridge and Cardiff in September 2026, with the Cambridge programme funded by Origin Cambridge and the Cardiff programme funded by Pioneer in association with the Welsh Government.

The programmes are designed as an entry point to Pioneer’s wider accelerator portfolio and will support five pre-seed companies in each location.

Participants will have access to self-directed learning modules alongside online and in-person workshops covering tools and methods aimed at testing the commercial and technical viability of early-stage projects.

The programmes will also include customer discovery and assumption testing, with participants introduced to partners and support networks within their local innovation ecosystems.

Founders will receive pitch training from Pioneer’s Ventures team, with the strongest performers selected through a final pitch day invited to apply for future national accelerator programmes.

Adam Hardy, accelerator programme director at Pioneer, said: “The new regional programmes provide an entry point to our national programmes, enabling early-stage companies to access Pioneer’s exclusive ecosystem and network.”

The Cambridge Regional Accelerator Programme is aimed at founders working in areas linked to human and planetary health. The programme is seeking applications from companies working across advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technologies and life sciences.

Areas of interest include advanced materials, agritech, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, greenhouse gas removal, artificial intelligence, engineering biology, quantum technologies, biopharma and medical technology.

The Cardiff programme is technology agnostic and is open to innovations across medical technology, therapeutics, digital health and enabling technologies.

Pioneer has highlighted genomics and precision medicine as particular areas of interest for the Cardiff programme, although applications from other relevant areas of life sciences and healthcare are also encouraged.

The regional programmes are intended to give founders access to local support while providing a route into Pioneer’s wider national accelerator activity.

Pioneer said it has supported more than 350 entrepreneurs and funded more than 195 companies through its accelerator and venture-building activities. Those companies have collectively raised £830 million in investment.

The organisation operates innovation locations across the UK and Ireland and provides laboratory, industrial and office space alongside venture building and investment activities for life science and high-tech companies.

Applications and expressions of interest are now open for the regional accelerator programmes.